MANILA — The Commission on Elections said any implementation of an anti-political dynasty law should first focus on local government positions before considering national offices.

“Simplify lang muna. Ang importante sa aking palagay, makapagpatupad lang tayo kahit simple lang muna na anti-political dynasty,” Comelec Chairperson George Garcia told Super Radyo dzBB.

(Just simplify it for now. In my opinion, the important thing is that we can implement even a simple version of an anti-political dynasty law.)

Garcia said applying the law locally would allow more citizens to participate in elections.

“Kalimitan naman, ang talagang sinasabi na makakapagpaurong sa development ng ating bansa ay kapag ang concentration ng kapangyarihan ay nasa lokal,” he added.

(It has been often said that what would truly push the development of our country forward is when the concentration of power is at the local level.)

Senator Risa Hontiveros, chair of the Senate panel on electoral reforms and people’s participation, said key points from five previous public consultations on the anti-political dynasty bill would be considered in drafting the committee report.

Multiple bills seeking to enforce the 1987 Constitution’s provision against political dynasties have been filed in both the Senate of the Philippines and the House of Representatives. At the Senate, seven anti-dynasty measures remain pending before the electoral reforms committee.